Merryvale Vineyards

René Schlatter and his father Jack W. Schlatter are the owners of Merryvale Vineyards. Remi Cohn is director of vineyard operations and Sean Foster is the senior winemaker. Merryvale is well-known for its Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Red Bordeaux Blend and was chosen "California Winery of the Year" by Quarterly Review of Wines in 2009. Merryvale makes 100,000 cases annually (15,000 for Merryvale, the rest under Starmont wines) primarily from its 125 acres, making most of its wines estate wines. Since 2006, the Napa Valley Pinot Noirs have been stellar, especially the Stanly Ranch bottling from Carneros, and worthy of a pinotphile's attention.

Merryvale was the first winery built in Napa after Prohibition. A second winery is located on the historic Stanly Ranch in Carneros where John Stanly planted one of the first vineyards in Carneros in 1872. This green winery is powered by the sun.

The veteran winemaker is Sean Foster and vineyard manager is Remi Cohn. All of the winery's vineyards are farmed sustainably and are certified Napa Green Farms.

Merryvale wines are available on the website. The winery's tasting room is open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM. It is located in a historic building at 1000 Main Street in St. Helena that was the first winery built in Napa Valley after the Repeal of Prohibition in 1933.

Articles About Merryvale Vineyards

Reviewed Wines

2010 Merryvale Carneros Pinot Noir

13.5% alc., $30.
·Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass.
The aromas are slow to emerge revealing delicate scents of cherry glaze and oak. Very soft in the mouth with
mild tannins, featuring flavors of dark red cherries and raspberries. Nicely balanced and easy to drink, but
lacks pizzazz. Decent.Reviewed April 13, 2013ARTICLE&nbsp»

2007 Merryvale Carneros Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., $35.
·The nose is a chameleon,
offering scents that vary from cherries to raspberry tart, from herb garden to sweet
oak. Perfectly fine cherry flavors with a sidecar of oak toast and baking spices and
a baked cookie note. Beautifully balanced and refreshing to drink. Not a
blockbuster, but I could be perfectly happy with this wine any night with dinner.Reviewed July 9, 2009ARTICLE&nbsp»

2007 Merryvale Stanly Ranch Estate Carneros Pinot Noir

14.8% alc.,
$45. Sourced from favorite blocks of the sustainably-farmed estate
vineyard on the historic Stanly Ranch.
·Fresh and vibrant aromas of
summer cherries and berries with complimentary oak spice. Mediumweighted
flavors of earth and mineral-dusted black cherries with an echo
of oak char in the background. Very smoothly textured with dry, ripe
tannins. This wine speaks of the soil and is the best wine I have had from
this vineyard in recent memory.Reviewed July 9, 2009ARTICLE&nbsp»